WA’s interstate series title ambitions are over for another year after a narrow defeat at the hands of Queensland on Tuesday afternoon.
After a halved match with Victoria in the morning session, WA knew that only a win against the host state would realistically keep their slender title hopes alive. And despite giving the Sunshine Staters a good run for their money, WA ultimately came up short.
Queensland got off to a strong start, with Ionna Muir and Hannah Reeves exploding out of the blocks to leave WA’s Ruby Cotton (pictured top) and Erina Tan well down early in their matches. Neither would find a way back, with Tan falling 8&6 to an inspired Reeves and Cotton going down 5&4.
Michael Hanrahan Smith and Abbie Teasdale both wrapped up commanding 4&3 victories to steady the ship but when Connor Fewkes was well beaten, the match hung in the balance with the three remaining matches going to the wire.
Amanda Gan threatened an upset against QLD’s top-ranked Justice Bosio before being edged out on the 18th, while Joseph Buttress let slip a late two-hole advantage to halve his match with Kai Komulainen.
It meant that Jodan Doull’s superb 1UP win over QLD number one Quinn Croker wasn’t enough to earn WA a share of the spoils.
Jordan Doull claimed the memorable scalp of Quinn Croker on day two
Close but no cigar
With 1.5 points from four matches, WA will doubtless look back at the 2024 interstate series with a sense of what could have been had they closed out more matches from point-winning positions.
Their morning clash with Victoria may have ended in a creditable draw, but when Michael Hanrahan Smith turned round a one-hole deficit to eke out a 2&1 win against Abel Eduard it looked odds-on that WA would secure a priceless victory with Fewkes ahead late in his match and Teasdale level in hers.
It was not to be. Although he was 1UP with three to play, WA skipper Fewkes lost by 1 hole to Phoenix Campbell, while Teasdale lost two late holes in a narrow loss to Australian international team-mate Jazy Roberts.
There were additional positives, however, with Ruby Cotton earning her first point in state colours with a confident 4&3 win over Shanaiah Fernando, and Joseph Buttress winning his match by the same scoreline.
However, the 4-4 draw, when coupled with the loss to QLD, means that WA have just pride to play for in their final match against NSW on Wednesday morning, while the overall team title is now a straight shootout between QLD and Victoria.
View today’s scores, standings and tomorrow’s schedule here.
Match 3 vs Victoria
Jordan Doull lost 4&3 to Jasper Stubbs
Connor Fewkes lost to Phoenix Campbell by 1 hole
Michael Hanrahan Smith beat Abel Eduard 2&1
Joseph Buttress beat Siddharth Nadimpalli 4&3
Abbie Teasdale lost 2&1 to Jazy Roberts
Amanda Gan lost 2&1 to Amelia Harris
Erina Tan beat Molly McLean 3&2
Ruby Cotton beat Shanaiah Fernando 4&3
Final score: WA 4 – 4 Victoria
Match 4 vs QLD
Jordan Doull beat Quinnton Croker 1UP
Connor Fewkes lost 4&3 to Lincoln Morgan
Michael Hanrahan Smith beat William Bowen 4&3
Joseph Buttress halved with Kai Komulainen
Abbie Teasdale beat Sarah Hammett 4&3
Amanda Gan lost to Justice Bosio by 2 holes
Erina Tan lost 8&6 to Hannah Reeves
Ruby Cotton lost 5&4 to Ionna Muir
Final score: WA 3.5 – 5.5 QLD
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